Doha: Dohaland will host a two-day symposium on 'Architecture and Urbanism: Rooting Contemporary Developments in Local Heritage' today and tomorrow, on the sidelines of the 4th Qatar Real Estate Exhibition (Q-Rex 2009), focusing on the new architectural language used in their recently launched Heart of Doha project, and the knowledge they gained in the process of developing the project.
Dohaland is also the official sponsor of the Q-Rex exhibition held at the Doha Exhibition Centre until Thursday, expected to attract over 25,000 visitors to see 100 real estate developers showcasing their projects in the region.
The two-day 'Architecture and Urbanism' seminar will focus on 'Urban Fabric of Cities in the Gulf: Concepts of Continuity' and 'Architecture in the Gulf: Bridging the Gap'.
Having launched its signature project, the Heart of Doha, on May 24, Dohaland has decided to share its intentions and approach regarding the project with its peers.
The seminar will offer a platform for discussions on traditional architecture in the region, its context and elements, approaching architecture and urbanism with new perspectives that better frame local identities and draw on its heritage; and portraying these through various conservation projects, historic references and contemporary development.
"We would like to involve our community in the development of our projects, and so we want everyone to visit the Dohaland stand at the Q-Rex exhibition. The stand, designed like a maze, leads you through the making of the Heart of Doha project with its models, displays and pictures. We want people to take a journey through the Doha of the past, and share how we will revive the heritage of Qatar through our project," said Eng Issa M Al Mohannadi, CEO of Dohaland.
The Dohaland stand maps the entire process of the creation of the Heart of Doha project from maps and architects' sketching in notebooks, to a complete model of the Heart of Doha site.
The Dohaland stand highlights its incorporation of green elements and environmentally friendly material in an aesthetic form.
"Reviving the lost language of local architecture and planning is, in essence, the main philosophy of the Heart of Doha project, and we wish to share and engage with experts, professionals, students, and other interested parties, around this important subject.
Dohaland's mission is monumentally innovative and will transform how we currently think about development. We believe our projects will be of huge importance to the industry," continued Eng. Issa M Al Mohannadi.
The symposium will be opened by Eng Issa M Al Mohannadi, with experts, architects and eminent speakers presenting over the two-day seminar.
The 'Architecture and Urbanism' symposium will open with the topic 'Urban Fabric of Cities in the Gulf: Concepts of Continuity', and Day Two will focus on 'Architecture in the Gulf: Bridging the Gap', engaging in presentations and discussions on how these concepts will be tackled in Dohaland's Heart of Doha project.
The Heart of Doha bridges the gap between the distinct Doha of the past, and the leading, global city it is today.
A city within a city that merges the best characteristics of the past with the modern technologies, in order to recreate H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned's vision of 'A rising homeland that confidently embraces modernisation and proudly observes tradition'. This project maps what made Qatar's architecture and urban planning not only unique in the past, but also sustainable and beneficial to the community.
The Heart of Doha project is the development and regeneration of the 35 hectare site located in Inner Doha, close to the historic origins of Doha. In the Heart of Doha, Dohaland will build sustainable, innovative communities that enrich our individual lives, promote environmentally friendly living, and rediscover the heritage and culture that makes a place unique.
The Heart of Doha development aims to encourage 'a meeting, not a melting, of cultures,' as envisioned by Sheikha Mozah.
Through the project, Dohaland will create a dynamic local economy, facilitating community interaction and social exchange, ensuring self-sufficiency in school and basic amenities, promoting an interaction and exchange among people in a common, sophisticated public area.
© The Peninsula 2009
